Lonnie Allsup, founder of Allsup's Convenience Store, dies at 84

[Dan Robinson]

Lonnie Allsup, the founder of Allsup's Convenience Stores, died at his Clovis home Sunday, January 28. Story:

http://m.kcbd.com/kcbd/pm_127489/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=Lm6vzaH9

For the ST newcomer: Allsup's is a convenience store chain in north Texas and the Panhandle that has a longtime place in storm chasing lore - mainly for its burritos (a loved-or-hated staple of late-night post-chase cuisine).

 

[B. Dean Berry]

God speed, Lonnie.

 

[JamesCaruso]

For the ST newcomer: Allsup's is a convenience store chain in north Texas and the Panhandle that has a longtime place in storm chasing lore - mainly for its burritos (a loved-or-hated staple of late-night post-chase cuisine).

I never ate anything at an Allsup’s unless it came in a bottle, box or package - would never touch any of the items cooked or reheated behind the counter, such as burritos or hotdogs. Still, for me, Allsups is part of the “sense of place” of the Plains and I have an affection for it. It’s weird to say that because I never ate their food, and there are lots of other places that are only in the Plains and not found in the northeast where I live. I guess it’s because on my very first storm chasing trip on Mart Feely’s Whirlwind Tours in 1996, he highlighted Allsups as being a typical storm chasing pit stop. So it became part of the novelty and experience of storm chasing for me - the “lore” of storm chasing as Dan so well put it.

I don’t feel like I have seen as many Allsups in many years. It could just be because they exist more in regions of TX and NM that haven’t provided as many chasing opportunities in recent years, but I’m not sure. Or maybe many have actually gone out of business because of the bigger truck stops and travel centers?




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